Cheteshwar should avoid playing hook shot: Father

Hyderabad: Whenever Arvind Pujara watches his son Cheteshwar bat in a Test match, the doting father in him turns into a coach who is more keen on dissecting his favourite student`s game.

"A double hundred in a Test match against Australia is always a special achievement. But I tell Cheteshwar to avoid playing the hook shot. He will tell me that it`s a scoring shot but I believe it`s a risky one. He got out playing the hook shot," Pujara senior said from his Rajkot residence after his son cracked a double hundred in the ongoing second Test against Australia here on Monday.

So what are the shots that he likes his son to play, pat comes the reply, "He is such a good looking player when he is playing within the `V`."

"He doesn`t need to play unorthodox shots as he can score loads of runs playing the straight drive, cover drive or on-drive. He can play in that arc throughout the day and he should stick to doing that."

The 62-year-old Arvind had played six first-class matches for Saurashtra in the late 70`s but his son has more than made it up by being the second fastest Indian to reach 1000 Test runs.

"What makes Cheteshwar special is his appetite for big hundreds. If he is not out on a century plus score, he will make sure to carry on the good work on the next day.

"That`s why he has scored so many double and triple hundreds at the first-class level. Now he is translating that form into Test matches. I am hopeful that he will be able to maintain that consistency level," the former wicketkeeper batsman said.

Lot of people believe that Cheteshwar`s real test will be in South Africa at the end of the year and his father is confident about his son doing well.

"He played in the last Test series in South Africa. He has an idea about the bouncy tracks," he said.

Asked why doesn`t he come to the stadium to watch his son`s performance, Pujara senior gives a simple reply.

"Since Cheteshwar`s mother passed away in 2005, we were only two people. So I need to look after household affairs. I can`t just leave the house. But now, Puja (his wife) will be travelling with him."

So how much has `Lady Luck` got to do with his son scoring a double ton just after marriage.

"His wife has definitely brought him good luck. But I view it differently. Cheteshwar was facing an emotional void after my wife passed away. Now Puja has come in his life and he has got someone he can share his feelings with.

"International sport is a very tough place and you need that emotional stability. That is why, I feel very relieved now," Pujara senior signed off.